Rail-joint.



' R. S. GRAY & M. F. WRIGHT.

RAIL JOINT.

I APPLICATION FILED MAILZ, 1912. 1,036,21 9, Patented Au 20, 1912.

lEE Il 61 in ens ATE 1 ounce.

RUBIN SILVESTER GRAY AND MARION FRANKLIN WRIGHT, OF BARA AVIS, MISSISSIPPI.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed. March 2, 1912. Serial No. 681,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RUBIN SILvEs'rER GRAY and h/IARION FRANKLIN WRIGHT, citi- Zens of the United States, residing at Rara Avis, in the county of Itawamba and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in rail joints and has for its object to provide an extremely simple, eflicient and durable device of this character wherein the use of bolts, spikes or analogous fastening devices for the rail sections is dispensed with.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of scarf or lap joint for rails whereby a secure and permanent connection of the abutting ends of the rail sections is obtained.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail joint embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 4: is a section taken on the line H of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the end of one rail section.

Referring in detail to the drawing 5 designates two rail sections which are to be joined or connected at their abutting ends. The end of each rail has one-half of its head and web cut away as indicated at 6 to form the reduced longitudinally disposed lap extension 7 The base or foot 8 at the end of this reduced extension of the rail is the full width of the body of the rail and the end face of said extension is beveled or inclined as indicated at 9. The end wall of the body of the rail at the inner end of the reduced posed tongues or flanges 12 on the base or foot piece 8 of the complementary rail section. The reduced web portion 7 provides a shoulder or seat 8 upon the upper surface of the base portion 8 against which the lower edge of the lap portion of the complementary rail section rests.

When the rail sections'are connected as shown in Fig. 1, they are disposed at an angle with relation to each other and the base portions 8 of the respective sections are moved transversely beneath the reduced longitudinal portion 7 of the complementary rail sections, the flanges or tongues 12 of the respective sections being moved under the rails and into the grooves or recesses 11 of the other section. In this manner it will be readily seen that relative vertical or longitudinal transverse movement of the rail sections is absolutely prevented. The rails are of course adapted to be spiked to the supporting ties in the usual manner and when so secured, a very strong, rigid and permanent joint at the ends of the adjacent sections is obtained. By eliminating the use of bolts, and analogous fastening devices, the liability of the separation of the rails is overcome. As the use of fish plates or other connecting means between the rail sections is eliminated, it will be appreciated that the cost of manufacture of such devices is materially reduced.

While we have shown and described the preferred form and construction of the rails and the manner in which the same are to be connected, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

In a rail joint, the combination of the two rail sections to be connected, each having its head and web cut away at one end to produce a reduced longitudinal lap portion, the base of the rail being also cut away at the inner end of said reduced longitudinal extension to provide a base at the end of the reduced portion of the rail of the same width as the base of the body of the rail, the end of said lap extension and base portion being beveled or inclined, the end wall of the body of the rail being also beveled or inclined to form an abutting surface for the inclined end of the complementary rail Inv testimony whereof We hereunto aflix section, the end of each rail section being our signatures in the presence of two vvit- 10 further provided upon its base portion With nesses. longitudinally disposed tongues, the body RUBIN SILVESTER GRAY. of each rail section having recesses in its MARION FRANKLIN WRIGHT.

base at the lower end of the inclined wall Witnesses: thereof to receive the tongues of the other D. A. STONE, section.

D. B. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. G. 

